Radio Times

Episode 1/8

Charlie's first duty as new hotel manager is to oversee a weekend retreat for the executives of a leading fashion company - but receptionist Anna is incensed when she discovers the firm uses sweatshops to make its clothes. Meanwhile, concierge Tony is tempted to do something illegal with a jury member who's staying the night, and a female guest persuades the entire team to reveal the naughtier tricks of the hotel trade.

Episode 2/8

The lucrative potential of Valentine's Day is threatened by a damning review of the restaurant. In an attempt to turn things around, Emily, the new head of PR, convinces Charlie to hire hot celebrity chef Otto Clark (guest star Alan Davies), and organises a huge re-launch. Meanwhile, Charlie and Anna's romance looks doomed from the start, and Tony and Gino investigate rumours that a porn film is being shot in one of the hotel rooms.

Episode 3/8

The wedding of a hotel heiress to a wealthy American would be a welcome bit of business for Babylon - if there wasn't just 24 hours to organise it. And when it turns out the father of the bride has gone bankrupt, Charlie is faced with a stark choice. Meanwhile, Ben is appointed to look after the pooled staff tips, but temptation gets the better of him, jeopardising his friendships, his livelihood and his self-respect.

RT Choice (Jane Rackham, 4 March 2008)

As storylines go, this episode is as empty as the mini-bar in an alcoholic's room. If Hotel Babylon didn't look so damn good, you probably wouldn't bother checking in.

Episode 4/8

Auditions for a new kids' musical are taking place at the hotel, and the place is swarming with child starlets and pushy mums (Bonnie Langford guest-stars as one). What's more, one of the girls auditioning is Tony's semi-estranged daughter. Meanwhile, a demanding American visitor (Dead Ringers' Jon Culshaw) wants new curtains hung in his suite and buffalo milk in his minibar; and Anna falls in love with a handsome stranger. Comedian Paul Kaye also guest-stars as a camp theatre director.

RT Choice (David Butcher, 11 March 2008)

[…]All in all, it's like having champagne sprayed in your face for an hour - bubbly, refreshing, but a tiny bit relentless.

Episode 5/8

The hotel accounts don't add up and Charlie's under pressure from head office to correct the situation. The chambermaids are unpaid and threatening to strike, while Charlie's diamond-dealing friend Hutch needs expensive extra security for an auction he's set to host at the hotel. Charlie turns to his loan shark ex-cell mate Terry to bail him out, and things are soon back on track. But when another payroll cock-up means there's no money to pay Terry back, things start to turn nasty.

Episode 6/8

A Hollywood film crew has descended on the hotel, and with it two impossibly egocentric actors who loathe each other - despite the fact they are supposed to be playing the romantic leads. Jack is given the formidable task of keeping them happy in the interests of their on-screen chemistry. Meanwhile, Gino and Ben vie for the director's attention, and Anna tries to forget Charlie, focusing instead on Ned's invitation to whisk her off to New York.

RT Choice (Jane Rackham, 25 March 2008)

If you have an aversion to a certain four-letter slang word beginning with "t" that's sometimes used to describe a woman's breasts, this programme is not for you: in just one scene tonight it's repeated more than 15 times.

Episode 7/8

Tony is asked to book a prostitute for one of the guests and, despite his misgivings, he agrees. But when he discovers the girl is not only underage but the victim of a sex-trafficking operation, he enlists Emily's help to rescue her. An illusionist comes to the hotel to promote his show but Ben and Anna decide he's a fraud. James suspects Gino is involved when the menus for his new restaurant are stolen by a rival hotel.

Episode 8/8

Preacher and aspiring faith healer Jonah Slaughter arrives at the hotel with his assistant Nathan in tow. Another guest, Martin, is looking for a safe place to store his son's ashes - and plans to take revenge on the man he holds responsible for the boy's death. Armed and dangerous, Martin initiates a hostage situation involving Jack and Emily. Meanwhile, Anna is celebrating a recent proposal from Ned when she hears gunshots in the adjoining room…

RT Choice (Jane Rackham, 8 April 2008)

…Anna pretends she's Bruce Willis in Die Hard and makes a truly spectacular entrance into one guest's room.

Tony, Ben and James, meanwhile, reckon they're related to Rambo - and everyone else thinks they're in a French farce. Of course, it's all nonsense, but at least it's five-star nonsense.